Komsafjället

Komsafjället (Sami: Gurravárri) is a mountain in Alta municipality, Troms og Finnmark, Norway. The area has given its name to the so-called Komsa culture when in 1925, archaeological finds from the Stone Age were made in the mountains. The oldest finds have been dated to 8000–7000 BC. The mountain is close to the town of Alta, and the mountain's name Komsa is actively used in naming in Alta.[1]

History

The name Komsafjället comes as a simplification of the former name Kongshavnfjell. Old maps showing today's Komsafjäll showed the mountain under the name Kongshavnfjell, and the Sami name for the mountain is Gurravárri.

In 1925, archaeologist Anders Nummedal made large Stone Age finds in the area. Later, more finds were found, and the area gave its name to the so-called Komsa culture. In 2000, new finds of petroglyphs were also made. On the northwest side of the mountain, there is also a 5-meter old Sami sacrificial stone, Áhkku as it is called in Sami. The Coastal Sami used to sacrifice fish and fish fat to the stone.[2]

References
  1. «Komsa i tid og rom», et prosjekt i regi av Finnmark fylkeskommune 2004
  2. Odd Mathis Hætta: Samenes gamle religion og folketro. Alta Museums småskrifter nr. 1. 1994.

69°59′03″N 23°17′02″E


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